Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-04T18:18:19.318Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A clash of Umwelts: Anthropomorphism in behavioral neuroscience

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2019

Alex Gomez-Marin Open the ORCID record for Alex Gomez-Marin [Opens in a new window]
Alex Gomez-Marin*
Affiliation:
Behavior of Organisms Laboratory, Instituto de Neurociencias (CSIC-UMH), 03550San Juan Alicante, [email protected]://behavior-of-organisms.org/
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Brains enjoy a bodily life. Therefore animals are subjects with a point of view. Yet, coding betrays an anthropomorphic bias: we can, therefore they must. Here I propose a reformulation of Brette's question that emphasizes organismic perception, cautioning for misinterpretations based on external ideal-observer accounts. Theoretical ethology allows computational neuroscience to understand brains from the perspective of their owners.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 42 , 2019 , e229
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bernard, C. (1957) An introduction to the study of experimental medicine. Dover.Google Scholar
Canguilhem, G. (2008) Knowledge of life. Fordham University Press.Google Scholar
diSessa, A. & Abelson, H. (1981) Turtle geometry. MIT Press.Google Scholar
Jonas, H. (2001) The phenomenon of life. Northwestern University Press.Google Scholar
von Uexküll, J. (1926) Theoretical biology. Harcourt Brace.Google Scholar